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Persistent emission from X-ray burst sources and the nature of galactic bulge X-ray sources

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Abstract

TWO principal types of theories have been proposed to explain X-ray bursts: instabilities in the accretion flow of matter onto a collapsed object1–9, and thermonuclear flashes in the freshly accreted material on the surface of a neutron star10–16. Both mechanisms probably occur in nature but account for different observed phenomena17. The available evidence 17–19 leaves little doubt that the Type II bursts17, which are emitted by MXB1730–335 (the Rapid Burster), are due to an accretion instability. The properties of Type I bursts17, which are emitted by all burst sources (including the Rapid Burster), are naturally explained by the thermonuclear flash model15. In the light of this model, we discuss here the intrinsic persistent X-ray luminosity and the ratio of the average persistent X-ray luminosity to the time-averaged burst luminosity associated with Type I burst sources17,20,21.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Space Research and Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139

    J. VAN PARADIJS, P. C. Joss, L. COMINSKY & W. H. G. LEWIN

  2. Astronomical Institute, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. VAN PARADIJS

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  1. J. VAN PARADIJS
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  2. P. C. Joss
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  3. L. COMINSKY
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  4. W. H. G. LEWIN
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VAN PARADIJS, J., Joss, P., COMINSKY, L. et al. Persistent emission from X-ray burst sources and the nature of galactic bulge X-ray sources. Nature 280, 375–377 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/280375a0

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